Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness, for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. (1Tim 4:7-9; 2Pet 1:3-4; Eph 4:1; Col 1:10)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1Cor 15:51-53; Php 3:20-21; 1Thes 4:16-18)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Who has measured the Spirit of the LORD, or what man shows him his counsel? Whom did he consult, and who made him understand? Who taught him the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding? Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Isa 40:13-14; James 1:18; Rom 8:29-31)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it...so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (1Thes 5:23-24, 3:13; Php 2:13; Heb 13:20-21)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (1John 4:9; Eph 3:14-19; Php 1:6)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (1Thes 2:1-3; Php 4:5-7; Heb 13:20-21)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (John 1:14; Col 2:9-10; Eph 4:7; John 1:16; 1Pet 4:10; Php 2:3-4)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word. He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” "...I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one.” I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope. (Psa 119:114, 91:1-2; John 10:14, 27-30; Psa 130:5)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared... yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Psa 130:3-4; Gal 2:16; Titus 3:4-7)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Jesus said.., “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1Tim 2:5-6; 1John 5:11-12; Rom 10:8-9)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (1Pet 1:19-21; Eph 5:8-11; Rom 12:2)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

“Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.” And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.(John 17:24, 1:14, 16; 2Cor 3:18; 1Cor 13:12; 1Cor 4:6)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience, among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ! For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. (Eph 2:1-3, 4:17-20; Titus 2:11-13)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (2Cor 5:17; Rom 6:4; Col 3:1-2; 2Cor 4:18; Rom 12:1-2)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Jesus said.., “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal. (Isa 55:1-2; John 6:35; Mat 5:6; John 6:27)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (John 16:33; Eph 6:10-13; 1John 5:4, 4:4)

Today's Thought

Today's Thought:

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Pro 22:1; Gal 6:3; Pro 26:12; Rom 12:3; 2Cor 10:18; Mic 6:8)

Today's Thought

Today's Thought:

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. (1Pet 4:10; Rom 12:4-8; 1Thes 5:11)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. (Eph 4:11-14; Col 2:4, 8; 2Cor 11:3, 13:5a)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.” (Rom 5:19; 2Cor 5:21; Heb 7:25; John 6:37, 10:27-29)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. (Php 2:14-16a; 1Tim 2:3-6; 2Cor 5:14-15)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. Who has put wisdom in the inward parts or given understanding to the mind? For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (Psa 51:6; John 4:23-24; Job 38:36; 2Cor 4:6, 3:18, 5:17)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption.Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. (Psa 51:10; Eze 36:26; Rom 10:10; 1John 5:11-12; 2Cor 5:21; 1Cor 1:30; Col 2:6-7)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly. He feeds on ashes; a deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?” Let him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself, for emptiness will be his payment. Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. (Pro 15:14; Isa 44:20; Job 15:31; Pro 3:5-6; 2Cor 4:6; Rom 12:3)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. (Heb 4:12; 1Cor 1:18; 2Tim 1:9; Eph 3:11-12; Titus 3:3-5)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (1Pet 1:3-5; 2Cor 4:6-7; Eph 2:8-10)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification, because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Rom 4:3, 23-25, 10:9-11; Heb 13:20-21)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. (Rom 5:1; 2Cor 5:21; Eph 1:64; Rom 5:19; Eph 4:1; Col 1:10-12)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. (Isa 53:6; Rom 5:8-11; 2Cor 5:17-19)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die.” But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption. Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. (Eze 18:4; Rom 3:21-25; 1Cor 1:30; Rom 5:1, 8:1-2)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior. (1Pet 2:13-15; Rom 13:1-2; 1Tim 2:1-3)